Gaming machine

ABSTRACT

A gaming machine includes: a first game unit that performs a first game process for providing a first game to a first group of players; and a second game unit that performs a second game process for providing a second game to a second group of players. The first game unit performs the first game process including transmitting first game status information to the second game unit, the first game status information representing status of the first game. The second game unit performs the second game process including: receiving the first game status information from the first game unit; allowing the second group of players to bet on the status of the first game; and paying out an award to the second group of players based on the bet amount in accordance with a result of the first game.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is based upon and claims priority from priorJapanese Patent Application No. 2005-270853, filed on Sep. 16, 2005, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a gaming machine in which a player betsa game value to play a game and achieves a game value having an amountdetermined based on the bet game value when the player wins the game.

BACKGROUND

A gaming machine with which a game played in a casino can be more simplyplayed has been popular in the market. As an example of the gamingmachine is implemented a gaming machine in which a card game such asBlack Jack or the like is played.

As an example of the gaming machine described above has been proposed agaming machine that is equipped with: a shared display device fordisplaying an image of a dealer who deals cards for a plurality ofplayers; and a plurality of individual display devices for displayingimages for providing the card game to be performed by each of theplayers. The individual display devices are also called “satellites”, or“player terminals”. When cards are dealt, the dealer image is displayedin the direction to the setup positions of the individual displaydevices to which the cards are dealt, that is, so that each of theplayers as operators of the individual display devices and the dealerimage face each other. Example of such gaming machine is described indetail in JP-A-2004-008706 (on paragraph [0039] [0042], and on FIG. 1).The document JP-A-2004-008706 has a corresponding US patent applicationthat is published as US 2004/0063482 A1.

Furthermore, in card games such as Twenty One (Twenty One), a gamingmethod in which each player can play Twenty One (Twenty One) as a maingame with the player's own cards and also play an extra game for bettingother players' own cards. Example of such gaming method is described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,390,934.

In the above described gaming machine, each player uses an individualdisplay device, and thus the maximum number of players who can playsimultaneously is limited to the number of the individual displaydevices. Under the state that all the individual display devices areplayed by players, other players who want to play the game must waituntil some of the players participating in the game finish the game, andthus they may feel tired until the game is finished. Accordingly, thereis a risk that these other players lose their incentives the game andwalk away without playing the game.

It may be considered to increase the number of individual displaydevices as a method of solving this problem. However, the game machinefor supplying a game such as a card game or the like has such gamecharacteristics that the number and type of cards being used in the gameare finite and the time required for one game is increased as the numberof players increases, so that players lose feelings of speed, and thusthe number of players participating in the game at the same time islimited. Therefore, the method of solving the problem by increasing thenumber of individual display devices unnecessarily may damp thefascination of the game.

SUMMARY

One of objects of the present invention is to provide a gaming machinein which a first player, who waits for a second player participating ina main game finishes the main game, can enjoy a subsidiary game whilethe first player spends the waiting time.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a gamingmachine including: a first game unit that performs a first game processfor providing a first game to a first group of players, the first gameprocess including: allowing the first group of players to bet; andpaying out an award to the first group of players based on the betamount in accordance with a result of the first game; and a second gameunit that performs a second game process for providing a second game toa second group of players, the second game being different from thefirst game, wherein the first game unit performs the first game processfurther including transmitting first game status information to thesecond game unit, the first game status information representing statusof the first game, and wherein the second game unit performs the secondgame process including: receiving the first game status information fromthe first game unit; allowing the second group of players to bet on thestatus of the first game; and paying out an award to the second group ofplayers based on the bet amount in accordance with a result of the firstgame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overview of a gaming machine;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a player terminal;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the gamingmachine;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of an elevatingmechanism;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another example of the elevatingmechanism;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another example of the elevatingmechanism;

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example ofa main controller;

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example ofa main player terminal;

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example ofa subsidiary player terminal;

FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the gamingmachine;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the screen displayed on aliquid crystal display of the main player terminal;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the screen displayed on theliquid crystal display of the subsidiary player terminal;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the screen displayed on theliquid crystal display of the subsidiary player terminal which isshifted from the screen shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the screen displayed on theliquid crystal display of the subsidiary player terminal which isshifted from the screen shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of thegaming machine which is subsequent to the sequence diagram shown in FIG.10;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the screen displayed on theliquid crystal display of the main player terminal;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the screen displayed on theliquid crystal display of the subsidiary player terminal;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the screen displayed on afront display;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of the screen displayed on theliquid crystal display of the main player terminal which is shifted fromthe screen shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of the screen displayed on theliquid crystal display of the subsidiary player terminal which isshifted from the screen shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 21 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of thegaming machine which is subsequent to the sequence diagram shown in FIG.15;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of the screen displayed on thefront display;

FIG. 23 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of thegaming machine which is subsequent to the sequence diagram of FIG. 15;

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of the screen displayed on thefront display;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of the screen displayed on theliquid crystal display of the main player terminal; and

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of the screen displayed on theliquid crystal display of the subsidiary player terminal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the present invention will be now described withreference to the drawings.

1. Overview of Gaming Machine

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overview of a gaming machine accordingto an embodiment. The following description will be made on theassumption that a program for playing Black Jack which is one of cardgames as a game to be executed is installed in a gaming machine 100according to the embodiment, however, the gaming machine of the presentinvention is not limited to one for playing Black Jack.

As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine 100 has a main game unit 100A,and two subsidiary game units 100B connected to the main game unit 100Ato be communicable with the main game unit 10A.

The main game unit 100A includes a terminal portion 102 having five mainplayer terminals 101F called “satellites” which are disposed in asubstantially fan-shaped arrangement, and a panel portion 103 which isdisposed at the rear side of the terminal portion 102 when viewed fromoperators (players) of the terminal portion 102. Five subsidiary playerterminals 101B are installed in each of the subsidiary game units 100B.The players as the operators of the main player terminals 101F arecalled as main players, and the players as the operators of thesubsidiary player terminals 101B are called as subsidiary players. Inthe embodiment, the main players play a main game (for example, allgames played on so-called casino or games such as card games such asBlack Jack, baccarat, poker, etc., table games such as roulette, etc.)provided by the main game unit 100A, and the subsidiary players play asubsidiary game as a game to which the subsidiary players bet gamevalues to a game result of the main game played by the main players.

In the description herein, the amount of game values bet by a player isalso referred to as “bet amount”.

The panel portion 103 includes a front display 104 as a display devicesuch as a liquid crystal display device or the like, speakers 105, lamps106 and LEDs 107. The front display 104 notifies to each of the players,general information relating to all the games in which the main playersand/or the subsidiary players participate.

The front display 104 is designed to display information such as a startnotification of the betting-allowable time, an end notification of thebetting, and a win-loss notification of a game, by using animation of adealer 108 or other images.

The speakers 105, the lamps 106 and LEDs 107 provide effects relating tothe game, for example, the effect based on an output of BGM or a soundeffect or the effect based on execution of turn-on/turn-out inconformity with the image display of the front display 104 orindependently of the image display of the front display 104.

FIG. 2 is an partially enlarged view of the terminal portion 102. Theterminal portion 102 and the main player terminals 101F installed in theterminal portion 102 will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

Each of the main player terminals 101F has, on the top surface thereof,a liquid crystal display 201 for supplying a player with informationrelating to a game. The liquid crystal display 201 is covered by atransparent touch panel 202, and a button group 203 including pluralbuttons used in the game by the player such as PAYOUT button, BETbutton, etc. is disposed at the front side of the liquid crystal display201 for the player correlatively with an input interface screendisplayed on the liquid crystal display 201. Furthermore, a coininsertion portion in which the player insertions a game value mediumsuch as a coin, a medal, a chip or the like (hereinafter merely referredto as “coin”) is provided at the right side of the button group 203. Abank bill insertion portion 205 in which the player inserts a bank billis provided at the lower side of the coin insertion portion 204. A coinsensor (not shown) is disposed at the coin insertion portion 204, andwhen a coin is inserted into the coin insertion portion 204, a coindetection signal is output through the coin sensor. Furthermore, a bankbill sensor (not shown) is disposed at the bank bill insertion portion205, and when a bank bill is inserted into the bank bill insertionportion 205, a bank bill detection signal is output through the bankbill sensor.

A coin payout opening 206 is provided at the lower portion of the frontsurface of the main player terminal 101F. When the player presses PAYOUTbutton as one button of the button group 203, coins whose numbercorresponds to all or a part of a player possession credit value storedin the main player terminal 101F are paid out from the coin payoutopening 206, and the player achieves these coins.

An U-shaped transparent acryl panel 207 is provided at the front side(at the side facing the panel portion 103) of the liquid crystal display201, a solid model chip presenting portion 208 is provided in an areasurrounded by the transparent acryl panel 207. The solid model chippresenting portion 208 includes solid model chips 209, a presentingportion plate 211 having an opening through which solid model chips 209are projected from the inside of the player terminal 101 to the outsideor projected solid model chips 209 are accommodated in the playerterminal 101, and an elevating mechanism (described later) for movingthe solid model chips 209 upwardly and downwardly.

The solid model chips 209 is a model of a mountain of chips, and formedof resin or the like by molding. One solid model chip presenting portion208 may have plural different units of solid model chips 209. Forexample, there may be prepared a solid model chip imitating a mountainof chips each of which corresponds to one credit, a solid model chipimitating a mountain of chips each of which corresponds to 10 credits, asolid model chip imitating a mountain of chips each of which correspondsto 100 credits, for example.

These solid model chips 209 are moved upwardly or downwardly by theelevating mechanism in accordance with the number of chips credited inthe gaming machine 100 by the main player operating the main playerterminal 101F provided with the solid model chip presenting portion 208,that is, in accordance with the player's possession credit value. Forexample, when a player's possession credit value is equal to “251”, thesolid model chip imitating a mountain of chips each of which correspondsto one credit is upwardly or downwardly moved so as to project from thepresenting portion plate 211 by only the height corresponding to thethickness of one chip, the solid model chip imitating a mountain ofchips each of which corresponds to ten credits is upwardly or downwardlymoved so as to project from the presenting portion plate 211 by only theheight corresponding to the thickness of five chips, and the solid modelchip imitating a mountain of chips each of which corresponds to onehundred credits is upwardly or downwardly moved so as to project fromthe presenting portion plate 211 by only the height corresponding to thethickness of two chips.

All the players can rapidly and intuitively grasp their possessioncredit values by watching the height of the solid model chips 209projected from the presenting portion plates 211, and have realisticsensations as if the actual chips are being increased/reduced in frontof the player's eyes.

Next, the subsidiary game unit 100B will be described. The subsidiaryplayer terminal 101B installed in the subsidiary game unit 100B is thesame as the main player terminal 101F described above, and thus thedetailed description of the subsidiary player terminal 101B is omitted.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the internalconfiguration of the gaming machine 100. A main controller 301 isequipped in the main game unit 10A. The main controller 301 isconfigured by an information processing device for executing a gameprogram, peripheral devices, etc. The main controller 301 is connectedto the main player terminals 101F and the subsidiary player terminals101B so that the main controller 301 can perform two-way communicationwith each of the main player terminals 101F and the subsidiary playerterminals 101B. The main controller 301 receives a notification of a betcoin number, a betting target, etc. from each of the main playerterminals 101F and the subsidiary player terminals 101B, startsexecution of the game when a predetermined condition is satisfied,determines the win/loss of the main game and the subsidiary game, andthen notifies the game result to each of the player terminals 101.

Each main player terminal 101F increases/reduces the player's possessioncredit value according to the notification from the main controller 301.For example, when the main layer wins the main game, each main playerterminal 101F adds the possession credit value with the credit valuecorresponding to a gained number of coins and re-stores the possessioncredit value according to the notification from the main controller 301.On the other hand, when the main player loses the main game, each mainplayer terminal 101F subtracts the credit value corresponding to the betnumber of coins from the possession credit value and re-stores thepossession credit value according to the notification from the maincontroller 301.

Each subsidiary player terminal 101B operates in the same manner as themain player terminal portion 101F with respect to the subsidiary game.That is, each subsidiary player terminal 101B increases/reduces the mainplayer's possession credit value according to the notification from themain controller 301. For example, when the subsidiary player wins thesubsidiary game, the subsidiary player terminal 101F of the subsidiaryplayer concerned adds the possession credit value with the credit valuecorresponding to a gained number of coins and re-stores the possessioncredit value according to the notification from the main controller 301.On the other hand, when the main player loses the main game, each mainplayer terminal 101F subtracts the credit value corresponding to the betnumber of coins from the possession credit value and re-stores thepossession credit value according to the notification from the maincontroller 301.

The main controller 301 controls the output of the image signal to bedisplayed on the front display 104, the driving of the lamps 106 andLEDs 107 and the driving of the speakers 105.

The main player terminal 101F has a terminal controller 304F configuredby the information processing device and the peripheral devices, anelevating mechanism 302 connected to the terminal controller 304F and alight source 303.

The elevating mechanism 302 is means for moving the solid model chips209 upwardly or downwardly. In the embodiment, a stepping motor is usedas driving force for elevation, however, a normal motor combined with aposition control mechanism may be used.

The specific configuration of the elevating mechanism 302 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 4.

The elevating mechanism 302 shown in FIG. 4 has a rotational drivingshaft 402 secured to the stepping motor 401, abutting members 403 ₁ to403 ₅ that are fixed to the rotational driving shaft 402 and rotates inconnection with the rotation of the rotational driving shaft 402, armportions 405 ₁ to 405 ₅ that are rotatably secured to a support shaft404 at the positions where one ends thereof abut against the abuttingfaces 4031P to 4035P of the abutting members 403 ₁ to 403 ₅, and tableportions 406 ₁ to 406 ₅ secured to the other ends of the arm portions405 ₁ to 405 ₅. The solid model chips 209 are fixedly mounted on theupper surfaces of the table portions 406 ₁ to 406 ₅. The table portions406 ₁ to 406 ₅ are guided by a sliding rail 407, and regulated so thatthe solid model chips 209 accurately pass through the openings 210.

The example of FIG. 4 is designed so that five kinds of solid modelchips 209 are elevated, and thus the abutting members 403 ₁ to 403 ₅,the abutting faces 403 ₁P to 403 ₅P, the arm portions 405 ₁ to 405 ₅ andthe table portions 406 ₁ to 406 ₅ are prepared every five elements, andsubscripts are affixed to discriminate these elements from one another.However, when it is unnecessary to discriminate these elements, nosubscript is affixed, and these elements will be described merely as theabutting member 403, the abutting face 403P, the arm portion 405 and thetable portion 406.

Next, the operation of the elevating mechanism 302 shown in FIG. 4 willbe described.

When the stepping motor 401 driven by the player terminal 101 rotatesthe rotational driving shaft 402, the abutting members 403 are rotated.When this rotation progresses, the abutting face 403 abuts against oneend of the arm portion 405. In the embodiment, the abutting face 4035Pabuts against one end of the arm portion 405 ₅ most early, and then theabutting face 403 ₄P, the abutting face 403 ₃P, the abutting face 403 ₂Pand the abutting face 403 ₁P successively abut against the one ends ofthe corresponding arm portions 405 ₄ to 405 ₁ in this order.

When the abutting face 403P abuts against the one end of the arm portion405 and then the abutting member 403 is further rotated, the abuttingface 403P presses the one end of the arm portion 405 downwardly.

The arm portion 405 whose one end is pressed down is rotated around thesupport shaft 404, and the other end thereof is pressed upwardly. As aresult, the table portion 406 fixed to the other end is also pressedupwardly, and the solid model chip 209 mounted on the table portion 406is also upwardly moved. As a result a part or all of the solid modelchip 209 can be passed through the opening 210, and projected andexposed from the presenting portion plate 211 in accordance with therotational amount of the rotational driving shaft 402 by the steppingmotor 401.

Furthermore, by rotating the stepping motor 401 reversely, a part orwhole of the solid model chip 209 which is temporarily projected andexposed from the presenting portion plate 211 can be accommodated to thelower side of the presenting portion plate 211.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the shapes of the abutting members403 ₁ to 403 ₅ are determined so as to vary the timings at which theabutting faces 403 ₁P to 403 ₅P abut against the one ends of thecorresponding arm portions 405 ₁ to 405 ₅ respectively. Therefore, thesolid model chip 209 at the right end starts to move upwardly at theearliest time, and then the solid mode chips 209, from the solid modelchip 209 at the right side to the solid model chip 209 at the left side,successively start to move upwardly. If the solid model chips are set tobe discriminable from one another with colors or patterns by utilizingthis property like the value per chip is set to the lowest value for thesolid model chip 209 at the rightmost end (for example, one credit perchip, the value per chip is set to a higher value (for example, 5credits, 10 credits, 100 credits, 1000 credits per chip) as the positionof the solid model chip 209 is gradually shifted to the left side,possession credit values in such a broad range as the range from 1 to100000 credits can be expressed by projection amounts of the solid modelchips 209.

Next, another configuration of the elevating mechanism 302 is shown inFIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the basic unit ofanother configuration of the elevating mechanism 302. Plural basic unitsas described above are assembled into one elevating mechanism 302.

In the basic unit of the elevating mechanism 302, a table portion 503 issecured to a rotational driving shaft 502 rotated by a stepping motor501.

As in the case of the above-described example, the solid model chip 209is mounted on the upper surface of the table portion 503. In FIG. 5,with respect to the solid model chip 209, hollow semi-cylinders at rightand left sides are attached to each other to form one solid model chip209, and a hollow semi-cylinder at one side before attached is shown inFIG. 5. The solid model chip 209 is upwardly or downwardly moved so asto project from the opening 210 of the presenting portion plate 211 (notshown), and this is the same as the example described above.

A nut 504 is fixed to the bottom portion of the table portion 503. Ascrew thread and a thread groove are formed on the outer peripheralsurface of the rotational driving shaft 502 (not shown), and the nut 504and the rotational driving shaft 502 screw together.

The table portion 503 is regulated so as not to rotate in connectionwith the rotational driving shaft 502. For example, a guide rail isprovided to rotate the rotation of the table portion (the movement inthe up-and-down direction is not regulated) as in the case of the aboveexample. Alternatively, the rotation of the table portion 503 may beregulated (the movement in the up-and-down direction is not regulated)by making the table portion 503 in slidable contact with the inner wallor the gaming machine 100 or the like.

The table portion 503 is screw-fed forward or backward by rotating therotational driving shaft 502. That is, by controlling the rotationaldriving of the stepping motor 501, the upward and downward movement ofthe table portion 503, that is, the solid model chip 209 placed on thetable portion 503 can be controlled.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example in which the elevatingmechanism 302 is configured by using plural basic units described above.In the example of the elevating mechanism 302, it is configured by anarray of five basic units each of which has one solid model chip 209mounted thereon, and an array of other five basics units each of whichhas one solid model chip 209 mounted thereon. The stepping motor 501 isprovided every basic unit, and thus the elevation control of the solidmodel chips 209 can be controlled independently every basic unit.

Therefore, when the elevating mechanism 302 thus configured is used, thesolid model chip 209 is elevated not only for the purpose of displayingthe possession credit value, but also for the purpose of achievinganother display such as an effect of elevating the solid model chip 209like waves from right to left or from left to light when a player of theplayer terminal gains a large win.

Returning to FIG. 3, the schematic configuration of the gaming machine100 will be described.

The terminal controller 304 of the main player terminal 101F isconnected to the light source portion 303, and controls the lightemission operation of the light source portion 303. The light sourceportion 303 is a circuit having a light source such as plural LEDs orthe like, and functions as a light source that can change the colorthereof (for example, red, blue, green, white or the like) and thebrightness thereof. Light emitted from the light source portion 303 isguided by the acryl panel 207, and emitted to the outside of the gamingmachine. 100, particularly so as to be visible by the player.

Next, the subsidiary player terminal 101B will be described.

The subsidiary player terminal 101B includes a terminal controller 304Bconfigured by an information processing device and peripheral devices,an elevating mechanism 302 connected to the terminal controller 304 anda light source portion 303. The solid model chip 209 is operated by theelevating mechanism 302, and the light emission control of the acrylpanel 207 is performed by the light source portion 303. The elevatingmechanism 302, the light source portion 303, the acryl panel 207 and thesolid model chip 209 are designed as in the case of the main playerterminal portion 101F, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

2. Configuration of Main Controller

Next, the configuration of the main controller 301 will be describedwith reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the gamingmachine 100 mainly containing the main controller 101.

The main controller 301 is configured by a computer 705 which basicallyincludes CPU 701, RAM 702, ROM 703 and a bus 704 for performing datatransmission among the above elements, and ROM 703 and RAM 702 areconnected to CPU 701 through the bus 704. In ROM 703 are stored variouskinds of programs, data tables, etc. which are required to execute theprocessing for the control of the gaming machine 100. Furthermore, RAM702 is a memory for temporarily storing various kinds of data calculatedin CPU 701.

The microcomputer, more specifically CPU 701 is connected to an imageprocessing circuit 707 through an I/O interface 706, and the imageprocessing circuit 707 is connected to the front display 104 to controlthe driving of the front display.

The image processing circuit 707 is configured by a program ROM, animage ROM, an image control CPU, a work RAM, VDP (video displayprocessor), a video RAM, etc. In the program ROM are stored variouskinds of an image control program and various kinds of selection tablesassociated with the display on the front display 104. In the image ROMare stored image-forming dot data such as dot data required to form animage on the front display 104, etc. Furthermore, on the basis ofparameters set in CPU 701, the image control CPU determines an image tobe displayed on the front display 104 from dot data pre-stored in theprogram ROM according to the image control program pre-stored in theprogram ROM. Furthermore, the work RAM is designed as temporarilystoring means when the image control program is executed by the imagecontrol CPU. Furthermore, VDP generates image data corresponding to adisplay content determined by the image control CPU, and outputs theimage data to the front display 104. The video RAM is designed astemporarily storing means when an image is formed by VDP.

Furthermore, the microcomputer 705, more specifically CP 701 isconnected to the speakers 105 through an audio circuit 708, and thespeakers 105 generate various kinds of sound effects, BGM, etc. whenvarious kinds of effects are carried out on the basis of the outputsignal from the audio circuit.

Furthermore, the lamps 106 and LEDs 107 are connected through a lampdrive circuit to the microcomputer 705, more specifically CPU 701. Whenmany lamps 106 and LEDs 107 are disposed on the front surface of thegaming machine 100 to provide various kinds of effects, the turn-oncontrol thereof is performed on the basis of the driving signal from CPU701 by the lamp drive circuit.

Furthermore, the microcomputer 705, more specifically CPU 701 isconnected to each of the main player terminals 101F and the subsidiaryplayer terminals 101B through the communication interface 10, and thetwo-way communication can be performed between CPU 701 and each mainplayer terminal 101F while the two-way communication can be performedbetween CPU 701 and each subsidiary player terminal 101B. Themicrocomputer 705, more specifically CPU 701 receives/transmitscommands, requests, etc. from/to each main player terminal 101, and themain controller 301 and the main player terminal 101F carry out theprogress control of the main game in cooperation with each other.Likewise, the microcomputer 705, more specifically CPU 701receives/transmits commands, requests, etc. from/to each subsidiaryplayer terminal 101B by the communication interface 710, and the maincontroller 301 and the subsidiary player terminal 101B carry out theprogress control of the subsidiary game in cooperation with each other.

3. Configuration of Main Player Terminal

Next, the configuration of the main player terminal 101F will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a controlsystem of the main player terminal 101F.

The central core of the main player terminal 101F is the terminalcontroller 304F, and the terminal controller 304F is configured by amicrocomputer 805 as the central core, which basically includes CPU 801,RAM 802, ROM 803 and a bus 804 for performing data transmission amongthese elements. ROM 803 and RAM 802 are connected to CPU 801 through thebus 804. In ROM 803 are stored various kinds of programs, data tables,etc. which are required to execute the processing for the control of themain player terminal 101F, for example, the control of the operation ofthe elevating mechanism 302, the control of turn-on/turn-off of thelight source portion, etc. RAM 802 is memory for temporarily storingvarious kinds of data calculated in CPU 801.

The microcomputer 805, more specifically CPU 801, is connected to aliquid crystal panel drive circuit 807 through an I/O interface 806, andthe liquid crystal panel drive circuit 807 is connected to the liquidcrystal display 201 to control the driving of the liquid crystal display201.

The microcomputer 805, more specifically CPU 801, is connected to atouch panel drive circuit 808 through the I/O interface 806, and thetouch panel drive circuit 808 outputs coordinate data of the touchposition on the touch panel 202.

The microcomputer 805, more specifically CPU 801, is connected to ahopper 814 through a hopper drive circuit 809. When a driving signal isoutput from CPU 801 to the hopper drive circuit 809, the hopper 814 paysout a predetermined number of coins from the coin payout opening 206. Acoin detector 815 is connected to CPU 801 through a payout completionsignal circuit 810. The coin detector 815 is disposed in the coin payoutopening 206, and when it is detected that a predetermined number ofcoins are paid out from the coin payout opening 206, a coin payoutdetection signal is output from the coin detector 815 to the payoutcompletion signal circuit 810, and the payout completion signal circuit810 outputs a payout completion signal to CPU 801.

The microcomputer 805, more specifically CPU 801, is connected to astepping motor control circuit 811 for rotating the stepping motor 401(or 501) to drive the elevating mechanism 302. When a motor drivingsignal is output from CPU 801 to the stepping motor control circuit 811,the stepping motor 401 (or 501) is driven to rotate by the steppingmotor control circuit 811, whereby the elevating mechanism 302 operatesto move the solid model chip 209 upwardly or downwardly.

The microcomputer 805, more specifically CPU 801, is connected to an LEDdriving control circuit 812 for driving the light source portion 303. Inthe embodiment, the light source portion 303 is configured by pluralLEDs, and the LED driving control circuit 812 supplies driving power todriving-targeted LEDs out of all the LEDs in accordance with an LEDdriving command from CPU 801. Accordingly, the turn-on/turn-out of LEDscan be controlled in a desired style under the control of CPU 801.

In the embodiment, the light source portion is configured by five redLEDs, five blue LEDs and five white LEDs, and the LED driving controlcircuit 812 is a circuit for selectively supplying power so that thefive red LEDs, the five blue LEDs and the five white LEDs can beindependently and separately turned on/turned off.

The microcomputer 805, more specifically CPU 801, is connected to themain controller 301 through the communication interface 813, and CPU 801and the main controller 301 can perform two-way communicationtherebetween. CPU 801 performs transmission/reception, etc. of commands,requests, data, etc. with the main controller 3, and the main controller301 and the main player terminal 101F controls the progress of the maingame in cooperation with each other.

4. Configuration of Subsidiary Player Terminal

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the controlsystem for the subsidiary player terminal 101B. As shown in FIG. 9, theconfiguration of the control system of the subsidiary player terminal101B is the same as the main player terminal portion 101F. Therefore,the same constituent elements are represented by the same referencenumerals, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

5. Operation of Gaming Machine

Next, an operation of the gaming machine 100 according to the embodimentwill be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 26. FIG. 10 is asequence diagram showing the operation of the gaming machine 100, FIG.15 is a sequence diagram sequential to FIG. 11, FIG. 21 is a sequencediagram sequential to FIG. 15, and FIG. 23 is a sequence diagramsequential to FIG. 15 when a different choice from FIG. 21 is made. Theoperation of the gaming machine 100 will be described hereunder withreference to these sequence diagrams.

In FIGS. 10, 15, 21 and 23, only one main player terminal and only onesubsidiary player terminal are illustrated as representatives for themain player terminals 101F and the subsidiary player terminals 101B, andthe other main player terminals 101F and the subsidiary player terminals101B are omitted from the illustration.

First, when the start condition of the game is satisfied, the maincontroller 301 executes dealing card preparation processingcorresponding to a work of shuffling a mount of cards and preparing forcard dealing by a dealer (step S1001). Specifically, when there are Ncards to be used in one game, any one of the numbers from first to N-th(called as a dealing order) is randomly allocated to each card. The maincontroller 301 determines the cards to be dealt to the dealer and mainplayers according to this dealing order.

When the dealing card preparation processing (step S1001) is finished,the main controller 301 transmits a main game starting instruction toeach main player terminal 101F (more specifically, the terminalcontroller 304F, hereinafter merely referred to as “main player terminal101F”) (step S1002).

The main player terminal portion 101F receiving the main game startinstruction executes main game input acceptance processing (step S1003).The main game input acceptance processing is the processing of promptingan input operation for selection and settlement (containing anindication of a bet amount) by a main player, and achieving an inputcontent as data. In this example, the main game input acceptanceprocessing prompts the main player to input the bet amount. FIG. 11shows a display example displayed on the liquid crystal display 201 ofthe main player terminal portion 101F as a user input interface screenwhen the main game input acceptance processing is executed. The inputinterface screen will be described hereunder with reference to FIG. 11.

As shown in FIG. 11, a player card display area 1101 is provided at thefront side of the liquid crystal display 201 (at the panel portion 103side). However, at this time point, the processing corresponding to thecard dealing to the main player is not carried out, and thus no cardimage is displayed.

A chip display area 1102 is provided at the lower side of the playercard display area 1101. An image 1118 of chips corresponding to thenumber of coins bet by the main player is displayed on the chip displayarea 1102 to provided an effect to enhance the realistic sensations.When the player touches the chip display area 1102, the bet amount isdetermined by the touch panel 202, and the bet amount thus determined istransmitted to the main controller 301. That is, the chip display area1102 also functions as a bet determining button.

Plural bet buttons 1103 are displayed at the lower right side of thechip display area 1102. The main player can input a desired bet amountby properly touching the bet button 1103. In the example shown in FIG.12, the values “1”, “10” and “100” are set to the respective bet buttons1103, and coins whose number corresponds to a value set by one touch areadded to the bet value.

Repeat bet button 1104 and UNDO bet button 1105 are displayed at theupper side of the bet button 1103. By touching the Repeat bet button1104, the main player can bet the same number of coins as the previousgame in which he/she participated just before. By touching the UNDO betbutton 1105, the main player can cancel the number of coins bet.

An operating button group used when the main player bargains with thedealer 108 is displayed at the lower left side of the chip display area1102. Specifically, as the operating buttons are displayed STAND button1106, HIT button 1107, SURRENDER button 1108, INSURANCE button 1109,SPLIT button 1110 and Double Down button 1111.

The STAND button 1106 is an operating button to be touched when theplayer tries the player's luck by using the currently-dealt cardswithout any request for card dealing. The HIT button 1107 is anoperating button to be touched by the main player when dealing one morecard is requested in addition to the dealt cards. The HIT button 1107 iscontinuously usable until the total number of dealt cards is equal to 21or more.

The SURRENDER button 1108 is an operating button to be touched when themain player gives up a bout in the present game. When the SURRENDERbutton 1108 is selected, a half of the bet amount at that time point istolled by the dealer, and the remaining half of the bet amount isreturned to the main player. The INSURANCE button 1109 is an operatingbutton to be touched when the main player effects insurance with a halfof the bet amount at that time point against Black Jack of the dealercards 801. The SURRENDER button 1108 is usable when the face-up card(the card at the obverse side is any card except for “A (Ace)”, and theINSURANCE button 1109 is usable when the face-up card is “A (Ace)”.

The SPLIT button 1110 is an operating button to be touched when twocards dealt during the game have the same numeral and thus the cards areshared to two hands. When the SPLIT button 1110 is selected, the playercan try his/her luck at each hand. When a card having the same numeralis dealt again after the cards are shared to two hands, the cardsconcerned can be shared to two hands again. In one game, SPLIT can beselected till three times at maximum. The Double Down button 1111 is anoperating button to be touched when the bet amount is doubled during thegame. After the Double Down button 1111 is selected, the player drawsonly one card and then cannot draw any more card.

HELP button 1112 is displayed and a message area 1113 is provided at thelower side of the HIT button 1106 and the STAND button 1107. The HELPbutton 1112 is a button to be touched when an explanation of the game(in this case, Black Jack) is requested. A message supporting theprogress of the game is displayed in accordance with the present gamingstate. A message explaining the game when the HELP button 1112 isselected is also displayed in the message area 1113.

An area in which a credit value gained by the main player is displayed(gained credit value display area 1114) and an area (possession creditvalue display area) 1115 in which a credit value possessed by the mainplayer is displayed are provided at the lowest area of the liquidcrystal display 201. An area (bet value lower limit value display area)1116 in which the lower limit value of the bet amount is displayed andan area (bet amount upper limit value display area) 1117 in which theupper limit value of the bet amount is displayed are provided. Bydisplaying the lower limit value and the upper limit value of the betamount, the main player is promoted to determine the bet amount withinthe range indicated by these values.

When the main player operates the bet button 1103 during the display ofthe input interface screen, the chip image 1118 is displayed in the chipdisplay area 1102 in accordance with the value corresponding to theoperation, so that the player can confirm the bet number of coins.

Returning to FIG. 10, the description on the operation of the gamingmachine 100 is continued.

The main player inputs the bet amount into the main player terminal 101Fwhile checking the input interface screen. After the input of the mainplayer is finished, the main player terminal 101F generates main gameinput content as the information corresponding to the input content ofthe main player, and transmits this main game input content informationto the main controller 301 (step S1004). In this case, the main gameinput content information contains main player terminal identificationinformation indicating which main player terminal 101F transmits theinformation concerned, and information indicating the bet amount. Themain game input content information is individually transmitted fromeach main player terminal 101F to the main controller 301.

The main controller 301 receiving the main game input contentinformation generates main game status information based on the receivedmain game input content information, and executes main game statusinformation storing processing as the processing of storing the aboveinformation (step S1005) Through this storing processing, the maincontroller 301 records what action each player takes (in this example,what bet amount each player inputs).

Subsequently, the main controller 301 transmits the main game statusinformation to each subsidiary player terminal 101B (step S1006). Themain game status information is the information relating to the maingame, and contains information required when the subsidiary player playsthe game. The main controller 301 generates main game status informationby using the main game input content information received from each mainplayer terminal 101F. The main game status information contains thefollowing contents, for example.

(1) Cards dealt to each main player terminal 101F

(2) The bet amount in each main player terminal 101F

(3) Winning percentage in each main player terminal 101F

(4) Record of winning percentage in each main player terminal 101F

(5) Cards dealt to dealer

Each subsidiary player terminal 101B receiving the main game statusinformation executes the main gaming state display processing (stepS1007). The main gaming state display processing is the processing ofdisplaying a main gaming state display screen to inform a gaming state,etc. in each main player terminal 101F to the subsidiary player. FIG. 12shows an example of the screen displayed on the liquid crystal display201 of the subsidiary player terminal 101B. This screen is a screen fornotifying the gaming state of each main player terminal 101F to thesubsidiary player to the subsidiary player, and also functions as aninput interface screen for accepting the input of the subsidiary playeron the subsidiary game.

On this screen are displayed a dealer card image display area 1201 as animage display of cards dealt to the dealer, a main player card imagedisplay area 1202 as an image display of cards dealt to the main playercorresponding to each main player terminal 101F, a bet amount displayarea 1203 for displaying a bet amount as a game value bet by the mainplayer in the main player terminal 101F, a winning percentage displayarea 1204 of the main player of the main player terminal 101F, and awinning record display area 1205 for displaying win or loss of fivegames immediately before the present game.

By checking these displays, each subsidiary player predicts which mainplayer wins the main game (gain the award), and bets a desired betamount to the win of the main player concerned. This is the content ofthe subsidiary game played by the subsidiary players. When a subsidiaryplayer touches any select button area 1206, the corresponding mainplayer is selected as a betting target of the subsidiary game.

A select button area 1206 for selecting a main player as a bettingtarget of a subsidiary game by the subsidiary player is provided at thelower side of the winning record display 1205. When the selected mainplayer wins the main game, the subsidiary player concerned wins thesubsidiary game. Therefore, the subsidiary player concerned receives anaward as a benefit of the winning of the subsidiary game.

At the lower side of the select button area 1206 is provided a ratedisplay area 1207 as an area for displaying a rate (subsidiary gamerate) by which the bet amount of the subsidiary player is multiplied todetermine the award to the subsidiary player concerned when thesubsidiary player wins the subsidiary game. As described later, thesubsidiary game rate may be changed in the progress of the game.

Plural bet buttons 1210, and UNDO bet button 1211 and Repeat bet button1212 located at the right side of the bet buttons 1210 are provided atthe lower right side of the screen as in the case of the input interfacescreen of the main player terminal 101F as shown in FIG. 11. HELP button1208 is displayed and a message area 1209 is provided at the lower leftside of the screen. A bet amount display area 1213 for displaying a betamount bet by the subsidiary player, an area (gained credit valuedisplay area 1214) for displaying a credit value gained by thesubsidiary player and an area (possession credit value display area)1215 for displaying a credit value possessed by the subsidiary playerare provided at the lowest area. Furthermore, an area (bet value lowerlimit value display area) 1216 for displaying the lower limit value ofthe bet amount in the subsidiary game and an area (bet amount upperlimit value display area) 1217 for displaying the upper limit value ofthe bet amount in the subsidiary game are provided at the lower side ofthe above areas. By representing the lower limit and upper limit valuesof the bet amount, the subsidiary player is promoted to determine thebet amount within the range indicated by these values.

After the main gaming state display processing (step S1007) as thedisplay processing of the input interface screen, the subsidiary playerterminal 101B executes bet acceptance display processing in accordancewith reception of the main game status information (step S1008). FIG. 13shows an example of a screen displayed on the liquid crystal display 201of the subsidiary player terminal 101B when the bet acceptance startdisplay is executed. The screen shown in FIG. 13 is basically identicalto the screen in the main gaming state display processing shown in FIG.11, however, it is different in that a bet acceptance start message 1301is added. The bet acceptance start message 1301 informs the subsidiaryplayer of allowance of an input to the subsidiary game.

Returning to FIG. 10, the operation of the gaming machine 100 will bedescribed.

After the bet acceptance start display processing (step S1008), thesubsidiary player terminal 101B executes subsidiary player inputacceptance processing (step S1009). The subsidiary player inputacceptance processing is the processing of prompting an input ofselection and determination of a betting target of the subsidiary playerassociated with the subsidiary game (containing an indication of the betamount), and achieving the input content as data.

The subsidiary player inputs the selection of the main player and thebet amount to the subsidiary player terminal 101B by using the betbutton 1210, the UNDO bet button 1211 and the Repeat bet button 1212,the select button area 1206, etc. while checking the input interfacescreen.

FIG. 14 is an example of the screen displayed on the liquid crystaldisplay 201 of the subsidiary player terminal 101B when the subsidiaryplayer inputs a bet value during execution of subsidiary player inputacceptance processing (step S1009).

This screen is basically identical to the screen shown in FIG. 13, and achip image 1401 corresponding to a bet value input by the subsidiaryplayer is displayed in a select button area 1206. When the subsidiaryplayer touches the select button area 1206 under this state,transmission of subsidiary game input information described later isexecuted.

Returning to FIG. 10, the description on the operation of the gamingmachine 100 is continued.

The subsidiary player terminal 101B generates subsidiary game inputinformation as the information corresponding to the input content of thesubsidiary player, and transmits the subsidiary game input informationto the main controller 301 (step S1010). The subsidiary game inputinformation is transmitted from each subsidiary player terminal 101B tothe main controller 301.

The main controller 301 receiving the subsidiary game input informationgenerates subsidiary game status information on the basis of thereceived subsidiary game input information, and executes the subsidiarygame status information storing processing as the processing of storingthe above information (step S1011). Through this processing, the maincontroller 301 records what action each subsidiary player takes.

Next, the description of the operation of the gaming machine 100subsequent to the step S1011 is continued. When a condition of finishingthe acceptance of the bet from the main player is satisfied, the maincontroller 301 executes the bet acceptance end processing (step S1012).The condition of finishing the acceptance of the bet may be lapse of apredetermined time (for example, one minute) from the transmission ofthe main game start instruction or the like, for example.

The bet acceptance finishing processing (step S1012) is the processingof judging whether the above finishing condition is satisfied andgenerates a bet acceptance finishing instruction when the condition issatisfied. The main controller 301 transmits the generated betacceptance finishing instruction to each main player terminal 101F afterit executes the bet acceptance finishing processing (step S1012) (stepS1013). The main player terminal 101F receiving the bet acceptancefinishing instruction executes bet acceptance end display processing(step S1015). The bet acceptance end display processing is theprocessing in which information for informing the main player that thebet acceptance is finished is displayed on the liquid crystal display201 of the main player terminal 101F as the input interface screen forthe main player. FIG. 16 shows an example of the screen displayed on theliquid crystal display 201 of the main player terminal 101F after thebet acceptance end display processing is executed. This screen basicallyhas the same content as the screen shown in FIG. 11, and is different inthat a bet acceptance finishing message 1601 is added at the upper leftside of the screen. On the basis of the bet acceptance finishing message1601, the main player as the operator of the main player terminal 101Fknows that the bet acceptance has been finished.

Returning to FIG. 15, the description on the operation of the gamingmachine is continued.

The main controller 301 also transmits the main game status informationcontaining the bet acceptance finishing message to each subsidiaryplayer terminal 101B with the bet acceptance finishing instruction toeach main player terminal 101F as a trigger (step S1014).

The subsidiary player terminal 101B receiving the main game statusinformation executes the bet acceptance end display processing (stepS1016). The bet acceptance end display processing is the processing inwhich the information for informing the subsidiary player that the betacceptance for the subsidiary game is finished is displayed on theliquid crystal display 201 of the subsidiary player terminal 101B as theinput interface screen for the subsidiary player, etc. FIG. 17 shows anexample of the screen displayed on the liquid crystal display 201 of thesubsidiary player terminal 101B after the bet acceptance end displayprocessing is executed. This screen basically has the same content asthe screen shown in FIG. 14, and it is modified in that a bet acceptancefinishing message 1701 is displayed in place of the bet acceptance startmessage 1301. On the basis of the bet acceptance end message 1701, thesubsidiary player as the operator of the subsidiary player terminal 101Bknows that the bet acceptance has been finished.

Returning to FIG. 15, the description on the operation of the gamingmachine 100 is continued.

The main controller 301 executes dealt card determining/displayingprocessing as the processing of determining cards to be dealt to thedealer and each main player and displaying the determined cards on thefront display 104 (step S1017). The determination of the dealt cards iscarried out on the basis of the dealing order settled in the previousdealt card preparation processing (step S1001 in FIG. 10). For example,the first card of the dealing order is set to the first card of thedealer (first card), the second card of the dealing order is set to thefirst card of a first main player, and the third card of the dealingorder is set to the first card of a second main player. Likewise, everytwo cards are determined for each of the dealer and the main playersaccording to the dealing order.

FIG. 18 shows an example of the screen displayed on the front display104 through the execution of the dealt card determining/displayingprocessing (step S1017). The front display 104 is provided with a dealerimage 108, a dealer card display area 1801 for displaying an image ofcards dealt to the dealer, and main player card display areas 1802,1803, 1804, 1805 and 1806 as areas for displaying images of cards dealtto main players. The images of the obverse surfaces of the cardsdetermined according to the above-described dealing order, except forthe second card of the dealer, are displayed on the dealer card displayarea 1801 and the main player card display areas 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805and 1806, and which cards are dealt to the dealer and each main playeris informed to the main players, the subsidiary players and galleries.

Returning to FIG. 15, the description on the operation of the gamingmachine 100 is continued according to the sequence diagram.

When the cards to be dealt are determined through the dealt cardsdetermining/displaying processing (step S1017), the main controller 301transmits the information on the first and second cards as theprocessing of informing each main player terminal 101F of the cardsdetermined as dealt cards of the main player terminal 101F concerned(step S1018). For example, in the case of the example of FIG. 18, themain controller 301 transmits information for specifying “7 of diamond”as a first card and “8 of heart” as a second card, as first and secondcard information, to the main player terminal 101F corresponding to thefirst main player (displayed as “Player1” at the leftmost end of thescreen) Likewise, the main controller 301 transmits information forspecifying “A(Ace) of spade” as a first card and “Q(Queen) of heart” asa second card, as first and second card information, to the main playerterminal 101F corresponding to the second main player (displayed as“Player2” at the second position from the leftmost end of the screen).Likewise, the first and second card information corresponding to thedealt cards are transmitted to the main player terminals 101Fcorresponding to the third to fifth main players.

Returning to FIG. 15, the description on the operation of the gamingmachine 100 is continued according to the sequence diagram.

Each main player terminal 101F receiving the above-described first andsecond card information executes the main player first and second carddisplay processing (step S1019) This is the processing of displaying thecard image corresponding to the received first and second cardinformation in the player card display area 1101 of the liquid crystaldisplay 201 of the main player terminal 101F.

FIG. 19 shows an example of the screen of the liquid crystal display 201of the main player terminal 101F after the main player first and secondcard display processing is executed. In this example, the screen displaycontent is basically identical to the screen provided at the betacceptance end time shown in FIG. 1 except that the card image isdisplayed in the player card display area 1101. The main player can knowthe progress state of the game from this screen shown in FIG. 19 inaddition to the screen displayed on the front display 104.

Returning to FIG. 15, the description on the operation of the gamingmachine 100 is continued according to the sequence diagram.

Subsequently to the dealt card determination/displaying processing (stepS1017), the main controller 301 executes main game status informationrenewal processing (step S1020). The bet amount of each main player hasbeen already stored in the previous main game status information storingprocessing (step S1005 in FIG. 10). This gaming state informationrenewal processing is the processing of storing the first and secondcards of each main player in addition to the bet amount and also storingthe first and second cards of the dealer.

Subsequently, the main controller 301 executes rate changing processingas the processing of increasing/reducing the rate for determining theaward of the subsidiary player (called as subsidiary game rate) inaccordance with the cards of the main player bet by the subsidiaryplayer (step S1021A). The rate changing processing is the processing ofchanging the subsidiary game rate in accordance with the progress stateof the main game to enhance the fascination of the subsidiary game. As aspecific example of the rate changing processing may be considered amethod of calculating the winning probability of a main player from thefirst card (face-up card) of the dealer the first card and the secondcard of the main player concerned and increasing the subsidiary gamerate on the basis of the winning probability. A predetermined defaultvalue may be used or a value calculated in accordance with the data ofthe bet amount, winning rate, winning percentage record of the mainplayer may be used as the subsidiary game rate before the rate changingprocessing.

Subsequently to the rate changing processing (step S1021A), the maincontroller 301 executes subsidiary game status information renewalprocessing (step S1021B). In the previous subsidiary game statusinformation storing processing (step S1011 in FIG. 10), the main playeras a betting target of each player, the bet amount and the initial valuerate have been already stored. This subsidiary game status informationrenewal processing is the processing of renewing and storing thesubsidiary game rate changed in the rate changing processing.

Furthermore, the main controller 301 transmits to each subsidiary playerterminal 101B main game status information containing information forspecifying cards dealt to the dealer and each main player andinformation containing the changed subsidiary game rate (step S1022).

The subsidiary player terminal 101B receiving the main game statusinformation transmitted in step S1022 executes the main gaming statedisplay renewal processing (step S1023). This main gaming state displayrenewal processing is the processing of renewing the screen displayed onthe liquid crystal display 201 of the subsidiary player terminal 101B onthe basis of the main game status information received in step S1022,that is, the processing of displaying each dealt card on the liquidcrystal display 201 in this example.

FIG. 20 shows an example of the screen displayed on the liquid crystaldisplay 201 of the subsidiary player terminal 101B after the main gamingstate display renewal processing (step S1023) is executed. This exampleof the screen is basically identical to the screen shown in FIG. 17 (atthe time of the bet acceptance finishing processing), and is differentin that card images dealt to the dealer card image display area 1201 andthe main player card image display area 1202 are displayed on the maingame status information, and the subsidiary game rate changed in therate changing processing is displayed in the rate display area 1207. Thesubsidiary player as the operator of the subsidiary player terminal 101Bcan check the progress state of the game from the card images displayedin the dealer card image display area 1201 and the main player cardimage display area 1202 and the rate display area 1207.

Returning to FIG. 15, the description on the operation of the gamingmachine 100 is continued according to the sequence diagram.

The main player terminal 101F receiving the first and second cardinformation executes HIT/STAND input acceptance processing as theprocessing of making the main player input which one of HIT (request foradded cards) or STAND (declaration of no added card), SURRENDER,INSURANCE, SPLIT, DOUBLEDOWN at the next stage of the main game shouldbe executed (step S1024). That is, the main player terminal 101F waitsuntil the main player executes an input operation by STAND button 1106,HIT button 1107, SURRENDER button 1108, INSURANCE button 1109, SPLITbutton 1110 and Double Down button 1111 as operating buttons, and whenany one of the buttons is operated, the main player terminal 101Fexecutes the processing corresponding to the button concerned.

FIG. 21 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the gamingmachine 100 when the STAND button 1106 is operated during the HIT/STANDinput acceptance processing (step S1024). An example of the operation ofthe gaming machine 100 will be hereunder described according to thesequence diagram of FIG. 21.

When STAND input is executed by operating the STAND button 1106 (stepS1025), the main player terminal 101F transmits STAND information to themain controller 301 in order to notify that the main player concerneddeclares STAND (step S1026). When STAND is declared, all the action ofthe main player of the main player terminal 101F during the game isfinished.

When the player's action is finished with respect to all the main playerterminals 101, the main controller 301 executes the main game windetermining processing for determining which main player wins the maingame and how much the award is (step S1027). This determination iscarried out on the basis of the main game status information renewed inthe previous step S1020.

The main controller 301 executing the main game win determiningprocessing (step S1027) executes main game result display processing inorder to inform the result to the main players, the subsidiary playersand galleries (step S1028). The main game result display processing isthe processing of displaying the win-loss of the main game on the frontdisplay 104. FIG. 22 shows an example of the screen displayed on thefront display 104 through the main game result display processing. Thisscreen has the same basic screen configuration as the screen shown inFIG. 18, however, it is different in that the card image of the secondcard is changed from the face-down (down card) image to the face-up (upcard) image in the dealer card display area 1801 to clarify the totalscores of the dealer and also a win-loss message 2201 indicating thetotal scores of the dealer and the win or loss of each main player isdisplayed on the player card display area 1801.

Subsequently, the main controller 301 transmits the main game resultinformation to each main player terminal 101F (step S1029). This maingame result information contains information indicating whether the mainplayer playing with the main player terminal 101F concerned wins orloses the game, and also information on the award thereof if the mainplayer wins.

Each main player terminal 101F receiving the main game resultinformation executes payout processing on the basis of the main gameresult information (step S1030). That is, when the main player playingwith the main player terminal 101F concerned wins the main game and theinformation on the award thereof is contained in the received main gameresult information, each main player terminal 101F adds the valuecorresponding to the award amount to the credit value or drives thehopper 814 to eject coins whose number corresponds to the sward amount,thereby paying out the award with respect to the main gain.

Subsequently, the main controller 301 executes subsidiary game win-lossdetermining processing of determining which subsidiary player wins thesubsidiary game and how much the award thereof is (step S1031). Thisdetermination is carried out on the basis of the subsidiary game statusinformation renewed in the previous step S1021B and the determinationcontent in the main game win-loss determining processing (step S1027).

Subsequently, the main controller 301 transmits the subsidiary gameresult information to each subsidiary player terminal 101B (step S1032).This subsidiary game result information is the information based on thedetermination content of the subsidiary game win-loss determiningprocessing, and it contains information as to whether the subsidiaryplayer playing with the subsidiary player terminal 101B concerned winsthe subsidiary game or not and information containing the award amountthereof when the subsidiary player concerned wins the subsidiary game.

Each subsidiary player terminal 101B receiving the subsidiary gameresult information executes payout processing on the basis of thesubsidiary game result information (step S1033). That is, when thesubsidiary player playing with the subsidiary player terminal 101Bconcerned wins the subsidiary game and also the information on the awardamount thereof is contained the received subsidiary game resultinformation, each subsidiary player terminal 101B adds the valuecorresponding to the award amount to the credit value or drives thehopper 814 to eject coins whose number corresponds to the award amount,thereby paying out the award of the subsidiary game.

Next, an example of the operation of the gaming machine 100 when the HITbutton 1107 is operated in the HIT/STAND input acceptance processingdescribed above (FIG. 15; step S1024) will be described with referenceto FIG. 23. FIG. 23 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of thegaming machine 100 when the HIT button 1107 is operated.

When HIT input based on the operation of the HIT button 1106 is executed(step S1034), the main player terminal 101F transmits HIT information tothe main controller 301 in order to notify that the main playerconcerned declares HIT (step S1035).

When the HIT information is received, the main controller 301 executesdealt card determining/displaying processing of determining cares to bedealt to the main player declaring HIT, and displaying the determinedcards on the front display 104 (step S1036). The determination of thedealt cards is carried out on the basis of the dealing order determinedin the previous dealt card preparation processing (FIG. 10, step S1001).For example, when the first to twelfth cards of the dealing order havebeen already dealt, the thirteenth card of the dealing order isdetermined as a third card to the main player declaring HIT.

FIG. 24 shows an example of the screen displayed on the front display104 through the execution of the dealt card determining/displayingprocessing (step S1036). The image displayed on the front display 104 atthis time is substantially the same as the screen when the above dealtcard determining/displaying processing (FIG. 15, step S1017) isexecuted, and the image 2201 of the card corresponding to the third cardis added and displayed in the main player card display area 1802corresponding to the main player declaring HIT (in this example, it isassumed that the first main player declares HIT)

Returning to FIG. 23, the description of the operation of the gamingmachine 1100 is continued according to the sequence diagram.

When the cards to be dealt are determined by the dealt carddetermining/displaying processing (step S1035), the main controller 301executes transmission of third card information which is the processingof informing the main player terminal 101F transmitting HIT informationof a card determined as a third card of the main player terminal 101Fconcerned (step S1037) For example, in the case of the example shown inFIG. 24, the main controller 301 transmits information for specifying “6of diamond” as the third card, as third card information, to the mainplayer terminal 101F corresponding to the first player (displayed as“Player1” at the leftmost side of the screen).

The main player terminal 101F receiving the third card informationexecutes main player third card display processing (step S1038). This isthe processing of displaying the card image corresponding to thereceived third card information in a player card display area 1101 ofthe liquid crystal display 201 of the main player terminal 101F. FIG. 25shows an example of the screen of the liquid crystal display 201 of themain player terminal 101F after the main player third card displayprocessing is executed. In this example, the screen display content isbasically identical to the screen displayed after the main player firstand second card display processing (FIG. 15, step S1019) shown in FIG.19 is executed except that the third card image 2501 is additionallydisplayed in the play card display area 1101. The main player concernedcan be known the progress state of the game on the basis of the screenshown in FIG. 25 in addition to the screen displayed on the frontdisplay 104.

Returning to FIG. 23, the description of the operation of the gamingmachine 100 is continued according to the sequence diagram.

Subsequently to the dealt card determining/displaying processing (stepS1036) described above, the main controller 301 executed main gamestatus information renewal processing (step S1039). The bet amount andthe first and second cards for each main player have been already storedin the main game status information renewal processing (FIG. 15, stepS1020) described above. This main game status information renewalprocessing is the processing of storing the third card dealt to the mainplayer declaring HIT.

Subsequently, the main controller 301 executes rate changing processingof increasing or reducing the subsidiary game rate in accordance withoccurrence of the third card (step S1040). In this case, the ratechanging processing is executed on only the subsidiary player selectingthe main player declaring HIT as a betting target.

Subsequently to the rate changing processing (step S1040), the maincontroller 301 executes subsidiary game status information renewalprocessing (step S1041). The main player as a betting target, the betamount and the initial value rate (however, the changed rate when it ischanged in step S1021A) for each subsidiary player have been alreadystored in the subsidiary game status information renewal processing(FIG. 15, step S1021B) described above. This subsidiary game statusinformation renewal processing is the processing of renewing and storingthe subsidiary game rate changed in the rate changing processing in stepS1040 while the subsidiary game rate concerned is reflected to thesubsidiary game status information.

The main controller 301 transmits to each subsidiary player terminal101B the main game status information containing information forspecifying the third card dealt to the main player and informationcontaining the changed subsidiary game rate (step S1041).

The subsidiary player terminal 101B receiving the main game statusinformation transmitted in step S1042 executes main gaming state displayrenewal processing (step S1043). This main gaming state display renewalprocessing is the processing of renewing the screen displayed on theliquid crystal display 201 of the subsidiary player terminal 101B on thebasis of the received main game status information, that is, in thisexample, it is the processing of additionally displaying the third carddealt to the main player declaring HIT on the liquid crystal display201.

FIG. 26 shows an example of the screen displayed on the liquid crystaldisplay 201 of each subsidiary player terminal 101B after the maingaming state display renewal processing (step S1043) is executed. Thisscreen basically has the same content as the screen shown in FIG. 20(see the main gaming state display renewal processing; FIG. 15, stepS1023), however, it is different in that the card image 2601 of thethird card is additionally displayed in the main player card imagedisplay area 1202 corresponding to the first main player and thenumerical value shown in the rate display area 1207 is changed. Thesubsidiary player as the operator of the subsidiary player terminal 101Bcan check the progress state of the game on the basis of the card imagedisplayed in the main player card image display area 1202 and thechanged displayed in the rate display area 1207.

After the step S1043, the processing of the gaming machine 100 returnsto the HIT/STAND input acceptance processing (FIG. 15, step S1024)again, and the same processing as described above is repeated until thenotification of the end of the action (declaration of STAND, declarationof SURRENDER) is transmitted from all the main player terminals 101F tothe main controller 301.

According to the gaming machine thus operated, there can be provided agaming machine in which a player who waits until a player participatingin a game finishes the game can enjoy a subsidiary game while he/shespends a waiting time.

6. Others

The above-described embodiment maybe modified as follows.

(1) In the above embodiment, the main controller 301 is provided to themain game unit 100A separately from the main player terminals 101F,however, the present invention is not limited to the aboveconfiguration. For example, the main controller 301 is not provided tothe main game unit 100A, however, a program operating as the maincontroller 301 is installed in the terminal controller 304F of some mainplayer terminal 101B so that the terminal controller 304F functions as ahost for the other main player terminals 102F and the subsidiary playerterminals 101B. That is, the present invention can be established evenif any one of the main player terminals 101F is configured as a mainplayer terminal 101F that also serves as the main controller 301.

(2) In the above embodiment, the main controller 301 executes thesubsidiary game win-loss judging processing (see step S1031, FIG. 21).However, the present invention could be established even if the maincontroller 301 does not execute the subsidiary game win-loss judgingprocessing (step S1031), but transmits main game result information tothe subsidiary player terminal 101B, and each subsidiary player terminal101B individually executes the subsidiary game win-loss determiningprocessing on the basis of the main game result information and executesthe payout processing (step S1033) on the basis of the result of thesubsidiary game win-loss determining processing.

(3) In the above embodiment, the award to the subsidiary player issettled in accordance with the bet amount and the award rate of thesubsidiary player separately from and independently of the result of themain game of the main player as a betting target. However, the presentinvention could be established even if the award amount to thesubsidiary player is settled on the basis of the game result of the mainplayer selected as a betting target (the bet amount bet by the mainplayer, the award rate applied to the main player).

According to the above modifications, it is sufficient for a subsidiaryplayer to merely input a choice of a main layer as a betting target whenthe subsidiary game input acceptance processing (FIG. 10, S1009) isexecuted, and it is unnecessary to input a bet amount. Furthermore, thesubsidiary game input information transmitted from the subsidiary playerterminal 101B to the main controller 301 contains only the informationindicating the main player selected by the subsidiary player, and thebet amount is not contained in the subsidiary game input information.

Furthermore, the main game status information transmitted from the maincontroller 301 to the subsidiary player terminal 101B contains the betamount of the main player (bet information) and the award rate appliedto the main player. In the subsequent main gaming state display renewalprocessing (FIG. 15, S1023), these information is displayed on theliquid crystal display 201 of the subsidiary player terminal 101B. Thebet amount of the lo main player and the award rate applied to the mainplayer are stored as a part of the subsidiary game status information bythe main controller 301 in the subsidiary game status informationrenewal processing (FIG. 15, S1021B) or the like.

The bet information included in the main game status information in thismodification, represents game values that each of the main players(first group of players) bet in the main game (first game).

Thereafter, in the subsidiary game win-loss determining processing (FIG.21, S1031), the main controller 301 determines the award amount for thesubsidiary player on the basis of the subsidiary game statusinformation, more specifically, the bet amount of the main playerselected s a betting target by the subsidiary player concerned and theaward rate applied to the main player.

The processing other than the foregoing description is based on thecontents shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 15, FIG. 21 and FIG. 23 in theembodiment described above.

When the bet amount of the main player is changed according to theprogress state of the main game, the bet amount of the subsidiary playerselecting the main player concerned is changed in connection wit thechange of the bet amount of the main player by the main controller 301and/or the subsidiary player terminal 101B. As a modification of thismodification, the main controller 301 may control to allow a subsidiaryplayer to participate in the subsidiary game only when the subsidiaryplayer concerned bets the credit having the same amount as the betamount of a main player (for example, 10 credits).

Furthermore, in the above modification, the main controller 301determines the award rate applied to the main player as a betting targetin the subsidiary game to the award rate (subsidiary game rate) to asubsidiary player selecting the main player. When the award rate appliedto the main player is changed according to the progress state of themain game, the award rate (subsidiary game rate) of the subsidiaryplayer selecting the main player concerned is also changed in connectionwith the above change by the main controller 301 and/or the subsidiaryplayer terminal 101B.

According to this modification, the award of the subsidiary player isdetermined in accordance with the game progress of the main player, sothat the interest of the subsidiary player is attracted to the main gameand thus the player's willingness of participating in the game can beenhanced.

In the embodiment described above, the main game unit 100A serves as afirst game unit that performs a first game process for providing a firstgame (main game) to a first group of players (main players). The firstgame process includes: allowing the first group of players to bet a gamevalue; and paying out an award to the first group of players based onthe bet game value in accordance with a result of the first game.

Each of the two subsidiary game units 100B serves as a second game unitthat performs a second game process for providing a second game(subsidiary game) to a second group of players (subsidiary players), thesecond game being different from the first game.

The first game unit performs the first game process includingtransmitting first game status information (main game statusinformation) to the second game unit, the first game status informationrepresenting status of the first game.

The second game unit performs the second game process including:receiving the first game status information from the first game unit;allowing the second group of players to bet the game value on the statusof the first game; and paying out an award to the second group ofplayers based on the bet game value in accordance with a result of thefirst game.

The first game status information may include award determiningparameter information (information representing the bet amount bet bythe main player, and/or the award rate applied to the main player) fordetermining the award to be paid out to the first group of players. Thesecond game unit may be configured to perform the game process furtherincluding determining the award to be paid out to the second group ofplayers in accordance with the award determining parameter information.

As described with reference to the embodiment, the second game unit maybe configured to perform allowing the second group of players to bet thegame value on at least any one of game players from among the firstgroup of players, as a betting target (the status of the first game).

As described as a modification of the embodiment, the first game statusinformation may include bet information representing game values thateach of the first group of players bet in the first game, and the secondgame unit may be configured to perform the second game process furtherincluding accepting, as the game value bet in the second game, a gamevalue having the same amount as the game value bet by the game player ofthe first group of players.

As described with reference to the embodiment, the first game unit maybe configured to include a plurality of first terminals (main playerterminals 101F) each provided for each player of the first group ofplayers (main players), and the second game unit may be configured toinclude a plurality of second terminals (subsidiary player terminals101B) each provided for each player of the second group of players(subsidiary players).

The gaming machine may be configured by further including: a maindisplay (front display 104) that is provided to be visible by both ofthe first group of players and the second group of players; and a maincontroller (main controller 301) that is connected to each of the firstterminals and the second terminals, and performs at least part of thefirst game process and the second game process, by displaying a progressof at least part of the first game on the main display.

As described in detail with reference to the embodiment, there isprovided a gaming machine that allows the players who cannot participatein the first game because of the restriction of the number of players toparticipate in the second game to enjoy the progress of the first gameand the game result of the first game.

The foregoing description of the embodiment has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, andmodifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to explain the principlesof the invention and its practical application to enable those skilledin the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and withvarious modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claimsappended hereto, and their equivalents.

1. A gaming machine comprising: a first game unit that performs a firstgame process for providing a first game to a first group of players, thefirst game process including: allowing the first group of players tobet; and paying out an award to the first group of players based on thebet amount in accordance with a result of the first game; and a secondgame unit that performs a second game process for providing a secondgame to a second group of players, the second game being different fromthe first game, wherein the first game unit performs the first gameprocess further including transmitting first game status information tothe second game unit, the first game status information representingstatus of the first game, and wherein the second game unit performs thesecond game process including: receiving the first game statusinformation from the first game unit; allowing the second group ofplayers to bet on the status of the first game; and paying out an awardto the second group of players based on the bet amount in accordancewith a result of the first game.
 2. The gaming machine according toclaim 1, wherein the first game status information includes awarddetermining parameter information for determining the award to be paidout to the first group of players, and wherein the second game unitperforms the game process further including determining the award to bepaid out to the second group of players in accordance with the awarddetermining parameter information.
 3. The gaming machine according toclaim 1, wherein the second game unit performs allowing the second groupof players to bet on at least any one of game players from among thefirst group of players.
 4. The gaming machine according to claim 3,wherein the first game status information includes bet informationrepresenting bet amount that each of the first group of players bet inthe first game, and wherein the second game unit performs the secondgame process further including accepting, as the bet amount in thesecond game, a bet amount having the same amount as the bet amount betby the game player of the first group of players.
 5. The gaming machineaccording to claim 1, wherein the first game unit comprises a pluralityof first terminals each provided for each player of the first group ofplayers, and wherein the second game unit comprises a plurality ofsecond terminals each provided for each player of the second group ofplayers.
 6. The gaming machine according to claim 5, further comprising:a main display that is provided to be visible by both of the first groupof players and the second group of players; and a main controller thatis connected to each of the first terminals and the second terminals,and performs at least part of the first game process and the second gameprocess, by displaying a progress of at least part of the first game onthe main display.
 7. The gaming machine according to claim 6, whereineach of the first terminals comprises: a display; an operation unit thatallows the player to input operations; and a controller that performsthe first game process by displaying a progress of the first game on thedisplay in accordance with the operations input through the operationunit.
 8. The gaming machine according to claim 6, wherein each of thesecond terminals comprises: a display; an operation unit that allows theplayer to input operations; and a controller that performs the secondgame process by displaying a progress of the second game on the displayin accordance with the operations input through the operation unit.